Vibrating earth densifying machine



Dec. 20, 1966 H. G. scHPr-:RCLAUS 3,292,512

VIBRATING EARTH DENSIFYING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed 0013. 15, 1963 QN, I Y Tui Dec. 20, 1966 H G scHPi-:RCLAUS 3,292,512

VIBRATING EARTH DENSIFYING MACHINE Flled Oct. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTR H/Mcs Gsm fel/ ps4: l n Qs United States y Patent O 3,292,512 Y j VIBRATING EARTH DENSIFYING MACHINE Hans Gert Schperclaus, Leverkusen-Schlebusch, Haus Freudenthal, Germany Filed Oct. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 316,416 6 Claims. (Cl. 94-48) This invention relates to vibrating earth densifying or packing machines of the type known under the name of packing plates and which are used for densifying or packingdeposits of earth. The invention relates in particular to those vibrating packing machines which are suitable for compressing deposits of earth in long extended trenches and in which the vibrating or jigging plate is operated by an out-of-balance vibrator which is driven by a motor.

Densifying or packing the earth in long, relatively narrow trenches, for example for drain pipes, telephone and power current cables :and the like, presents diiculties, because the working space for a vibrating packing machine is very restricted. This working space is further reduced by the trench supports which must necessarily be present. Machines with selectively engageable forward and reverse gears are little suited for use in narrow trenches, because, due to their great heights and because of the feeding force and ground resistance in thecase of clay and moist and consequently slippery and sticky or sucking soil frequently foundin deep trenches, there is not always suicient space to move machines of the known types backwards and forwards in a reliable m'anner. These known densifying or packing machines are, moreover, objectionable in that an operator is necessary for guiding the machine and he is naturally exposed to danger in narrow trenches.

The object of the invention is primarily to overcome the above-mentioned objections and to produce a densifying or packing machine which is intended for densifying earth dumped into narrow trenches, but which in addition is also suitable for use on embankments and for surface densification generally and which carries out its Work without special supervision and Without a 'person being required for guiding it.

To attain this object, theinvention provides a vibrating densifying or packing machine for compressing dumped earth, especially in long trenches, with a vibrating plate operated by a driving motor through the intermediary of an out-of-balance arrangement, a guiding arrangement for automatically shifting forward the machine which comprises a long guiding element, such as a rope, chain or the like, anchored to a stationary point at its ends and a driving element, such as a roller, drum, shaft, toothed wheel, sprocket or the like, driven by the driving motor possibly through the intermediary of a transmission arrangement. For reversing the direction of feed, a reversing gear is introduced between the driving motor and the driving element. The switching over of this reversing gear can naturally be effected by hand, but also automatically as for example, with the aid of an adjustable stop provided on the guiding element. It may sometimes be advisable, especially when using a rope as a guiding element, to wind it once or several times around the driving element. The guiding element may also be guided over the machine by pulleys or rollers in order primarily to insure that it is at the same height on both sides of the machine.

Mice

l In front of the outer supporting or guide pulleys or rollers,

cleaning brushes or the like may be provided for removing any dirt or the like which may adhere to the guiding element and prevent any other possible trouble. The parts mentioned above can be litted subsequently on existing machines.

In many cases one out-of-balance vibrator may be sucient for driving the Vibrating plate. However, certain objections or diiculties may arise. To avoid these and at the same time improve the dimensions of the apparatus in the desired manner by reducing the height thereof, the invention also proposes that two out-ofbalance vibrators driven simultaneously may be arranged on the ground or base plate of the machine. One of these vibrators can then be arranged on the front end and the other on the rear end of the base plate so that a space remains between the two vibrators for accommodating the driving motor 'which can be arranged lower than in the known forms of construction with the result that the con structional height can naturally be reduced.

The two out-of-balance vibrators can be driven by the common motor in various ways. Thus, for example, the two vibrators can be driven in phase in opposite directions of rotation if it is desired to compensate horizontal motive forces. Such an arrangement, however, requires a reversing gear between the two vibrators. Such a reversing gear can, however, be dispensed with ,if according to a further feature of the invention, the two vibrators are driven in the same direction of rotation and phase displaced in relation to each other by degrees. Horizontal motive forces are then also compensated and a kind of tipping vibration is imparted to the ground or base plate during which it lifts at the front while its rear end is pressed downwards and vice versa, so that the vibration frequency of the base plate is twice as great as that of each of the out-of-balance vibrators. A similar effect can be attained if two out-of-balance vibrators with a phase displacement of 180 degrees are driven in opposite directions of rotation and the directions of rotation of the vibrators are at the same time reversible. However, such an arrangement again requires a'separate reversing gear which Would also be necessary if it were desired to drive the two vibrators in phase and in the same direction of rotation in order to increase the densifying or packing effect. These two possible constructions should be confined to special exceptional cases on `account of the additional reversing gear and the expense connected therewith.

Many embodiments of the invention are possible. Two such embodiments of vibrating earth densifying or packing machines are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view (partly in section) of the rst embodiment of the invention, with only one outof-balance vibrator, and

FIG. 2 is a similar View (partly in section) of a modified form of construction of the apparatus shown in FIG. l, with two out-of-balance vibrators and reduced height.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. l, a rope 15 is provided as guiding element which is wrapped in several windings 14 around a drum or cylinder 10, for example of sheet iron mounted on a shaft 11 the laterally projecting journals of which are rotatable in brackets 12. The drum 10 with its shaft 11 can be removable from the brackets in order to facilitate the mounting of the rope. The brackets 12 are rigidly connected to the machine frame 7. The rope 15 can easily be anchored at its ends by means of rings or loops 15a. For guiding the rope 15 an upright frame 19, rigidly connected to the machine frame 7, is provided in which the two guide pulleys or rollers 17 and 18 are mounted. At the other end of the machine, another guide pulley or roller 16 is arranged, in an upstanding portion of the frame 7, which, in conjunction with the pulleys 17 and 18, insures that the rope 15 leaves the machine at substantially the same heights at both sides of the drum serving as moving element. For anchoring the rope 15, as for example on the trench supports, iron pins can be used which are driven in the oor or walls of the trench.

The drive of the shaft 11 and the drum 10, which Will serve as the machine operating or moving element, and which moves the apparatus backwards and forwards on the guiding element, is effected by a pulley or sprocket or toothed wheel 13 which is driven from the output wheel 28 of a gear box 27 through the intermediary of a belt or link chain 29. The gear box 27 contains gearing which rotates the rope drum 10 at the prescribed speed and a reversing mechanism to enable the change-over between forward and reverse. For changing over the direction of motion, a switch lever 30 is provided which is constructed as a hand lever and can be shifted from the idle intermediate position into two end positions corresponding to the two directions of movement.

For operating the machine, the driving motor, for eX- ample a diesel engine 20, is irst set in operation, after the guiding rope has been anchored at its two ends 15a. With the aid of a cltuch 21, which may be constructed as a centrifugal cltuch, the gear box 27 is driven automatically through the intermediary of a belt or chain 22a so that the feed can be engaged by the lever 30. At the same time, the out-of-balance vibrator 23, being mounted in side brackets 24 iixed on the base plate 25 is set in motion by the motor through the intermediary of the clutch 21 and a V belt 22. As a result, this plate 25, which is connected to the machine frame 7 by any suitable resilient means such as rubber-metal Vconnections (like 51 in FIG. 2), spiral springs 8 (shown in FIG. 2), or the like, and has a drawn-up edge 26, is caused to vibrate, the vibrations being utilized for densifying the earth. Thus, by moving the machine backwards and forwards continually, one layer of earth after another will be packed or made firm.

In the machine illustrated in FIG. 2, two out-of-balance vibrators 42 and 43 are mounted on the base plate 41 and interconnected by a belt 44. This belt 44 is a toothed belt so that the relative phase position of the out-ofbalance vibrators, -once set, cannot change. As can be seen from the arrangement of the belt 44, the two Vibrators 42 and 43 are driven in the same direction of rotation. They have a phase displacement of 180 degrees for compensating the horizontal thrust forces. For electing the drive of both vibrators 42 and 43 and also for providing the power to effect the travel of the apparatus, there is provided a motor and a reversing gear diagrammatically indicated as a compact block 45 in the drawing. The drive of the out-of-balance vibrators 42 and 43 is eiected through the intermediary of the driving pulley 46 and the belt 47 onto the pulley 48 of the vibrator 43 which in turn drives the vibrator 42 through the intermediary of the toothed belt 44. A toothed wheel drive or a chain drive may also be employed instead of the belt drive for the power transmission.

The motor and gear block 45 is carried by two angle brackets 49 and 50 which are mounted on the base plate 41 with interposed rubber cushions or rubber-metal connections 51. By means of the pulleys 52 and 52' and the belt 53, for which a chain drive might be substituted, and a gear-box 54, a sprocket 55 is driven by the motor and gear block 45. The sprocket 55 is maintained in driving engagement with a link chain 56 by which the apparatus is moved to and fro. The chain 56 may be guided over several rollers 55, 57, 58' and 59, as shown in the drawing. To control the backward and forward movement of the apparatus automatically in a simple manner, the chain 56 is also guided at the front and rear ends of the apparatus by sleeves 60 and 61 respectively. These two sleeves are connected by a common rod system 62 to a gear shift lever 63 which, on being operated, reverses the direction of rotation of the pulley 52 and consequently the direction of travel of the apparatus. If, for example, the apparatus moves along the chain 56 in the direction of the arrow 64, the sleeve 60 will, after covering a certain distance, strike against a stop 65 fixed on the chain 56, which stop may in the most simple formof construction consist of a nail, pin or the like, inserted in one of the chain links. The sleeve 60 will then be pressed back with the result that the link system 62 will throw over gear switch lever 63 and the direction of travel of the apparatus will be reversed. A similar changeover will take lplace at the other end of the path of travel by a pin or the like inserted in a link of the chain at that end coming into contact with the sleeve 61. In this way, the length of travel of the apparatus can be extended or shortended as desired, within the limits determined by the length of the chain, merely by changing the positions of the stops inserted on the chain links.

Both machines are preferably covered by a hood, as indicated in dash-lines in FIG. 2, in order to protect them against falling-in earth.

Each of the illustrated devices may also be provided with brushes or the like (shown in FIG. 2) for removing earth from the haulage chain or rope. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, there are shown circular brushes 70 secured to the sleeves 60 and 61. In like manner similar brushes may be secured to the brackets ryirg the pulleys 16 and 18, in the embodiment of While there are above disclosed but a limited number `of embodiments of the structure and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce still other embodiments with out departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated therein or required by the prior art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An earth-compacting machine comprising: a base plate, rotary out-of-balance vibrator means mounted on said base plate, a frame resiliently supported on said base plate, reversible motive means mounted on said frame, rotary engaging means carried by said frame and driven through said motive means for driving engagement with an elongate llexible haulage element having its opposite ends adapted to be anchored at spaced locations forwardly and rearwardly of said compacter, so that operation of said rotary engaging means in opposite directions effects movement of the compacter in opposite directions along the haulage element, guide members at opposite ends of said frame for guiding said haulage element and located at substantially the same level on said frame, and operating means for reversing said motive means to reverse said rotary engaging means, and, liexible drive means between said motive means and said vibrator means to rotate said vibrator means.

2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein said reversible motive means comprises a motor and transmission, said elongate haulage element being a cable, said rotary engaging means being a drum, and said cable being wound at least once around said drum to effect movement of said machine.

3. Machine according to claim 2, said operating means for reversing said motor means being a lever, means connecting said guide members to shift laterally, said means being connected to said lever, and further including mov-` able stops at either end of said cable to engage the corresponding guide members and effect lateral movement thereof so as to cause the actuation of said lever thereby reversing the direction of movement of the said machine.

4. A machine according to claim 2, in combination with brush means carried by said frame in cleaning engagement with said cable.

5. Machine according to claim 1, said vibrator means including a pair of spaced rotary vibrators mounted on said base plate and further including sprocket means on each of said rotary vibrators and a sprocket chain engaging both of said sprockets for synchronized rotation wherein the flexible drive means from the said motive means engages one of said vibrators.

6. A machine according to claim 5, said motor being accommodated between the said pair of spaced rotary vibrators and mounted on said base plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,910 10/ 1937 Baily 94-48 2,223,024 11/ 1940 Beierlein 94-48 FOREIGN PATENTS 905,852 9/ 1962 Great Britain.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EARTH-COMPACTING MACHINE COMPRISING: A BASE PLATE, ROTARY OUT-OF-BALANCE VIBRATOR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BASE PLATE, A FRAME RESILIENTLY SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE PLATE, REVERSIBLE MOTIVE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, ROTARY ENGAGING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND DRIVEN THROUGH SAID MOTIVE MEANS FOR DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE HAULAGE ELEMENT HAVING ITS OPPOSITE ENDS ADAPTED TO BE ANCHORED AT SPACED LOCATIONS FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY OF SAID COMPACTER, SO THAT OPERATION OF SAID ROTARY ENGAGING MEANS IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS EFFECTS MOVEMENT OF THE COMPACTER IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ALONG THE HAULAGE ELEMENT, GUIDE MEMBERS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FRAME FOR GUIDING SAID HAULAGE ELEMENT AND LOCATED AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LEVEL ON SAID FRAME, AND OPERATING MEANS FOR REVERSING SAID MOTIVE MEANS TO REVERSE SAID ROTARY ENGAGING MEANS, AND, FLEXIBLE DRIVE MEANS BETWEEN SAID MOTIVE MEANS AND SAID VIBRATOR MEANS TO ROTATE SAID VIBRATOR MEANS. 